Examining Environmental Predictors of Community Participation for Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder Using Geographic Information Systems (GIS).
Dara V Chan, Mark R Klinger, Kelsie A Adkisson and 1 others
PMID 32939608WHAT IT FOUND
For adults with autism, access to bus stops and religious organizations predicted better social participation and service use.
Population density did not. Daily living skills remained the strongest predictor, suggesting interventions should target both skills and local transport access.
Key findings
01Access to public transportation (bus stops) and religious organizations predicted higher participation in social activities and service use, whereas general population density did not.
02Higher daily living skills were a significant predictor for many aspects of community participation, often outweighing environmental factors.
03Living in more or less densely populated areas resulted in similar outcomes for social participation and service use.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The sample was small (124 adults) and limited to one state (North Carolina), where religious participation is culturally high, so findings may not generalize. The study used GIS data to measure the *presence* of resources, not whether the adults actually used them. It is unclear if the participants utilized the bus stops or religious organizations nearby. The sample under-represents adults in more restricted residential placements. The analysis was cross-sectional regarding the environmental data and participation outcomes, so it cannot prove causation. Only five specific community features were examined; other important environmental factors may have been missed.
Declared interests
Authors declared receiving research grants from The Autism Science Foundation, the Organization for Autism Research, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the University Research Council, Autism Speaks, and the Foundation of Hope.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that simply moving a client to a more urban area or near a bus stop will improve their participation. The study shows that the *presence* of these features correlates with outcomes, but it does not prove that using them causes better participation, nor does it account for individual skill levels which were stronger predictors.